Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Sam laughed at that one.
“And holy crap, is Jake great for Hannah, because she worries, like her brother, but while his is about falling short, hers is about disappointing everyone. And I mean everyone. She doesn’t want to let down either of you or Mr. Sutter and is compelled to make the best choice, from what to have for a special engagement dinner to what projects to take on at Sutter to the precise words that will be most impactful in a speech. She’s never not on except here with you two, with George, or at home with us. But even with us, she’s different when it’s me, Wick, and Harper, than when it’s me, Wick, Harper, and Kola. But the one person who makes her comfortable wherever she is, in any situation, is Jake. He is like her blanket of calm.”
“I get that,” Sam told him, gesturing at me. “Mr. Harcourt does that for me.”
I smiled at him.
Finn took a breath. “I hope, in time, I can do that for Kola, but like at the engagement dinner, because it was my family and he doesn’t want to upset me, he was on edge, and I couldn’t help because I was gonna throw up too, but suddenly I see Jake walk over to him, with his mouth stuffed with those spinach puffs––”
“Those were good,” Sam told him.
“I know, and that was all Hannah. She had all the appetizers catered, checked on food allergies, coordinated what everyone would bring to the warm family potluck, and then had the desserts catered, making sure that everyone had something they wanted. And, because my father is allergic to tomatoes, they were on the side, and since my mother is allergic to cherries, we didn’t have that, and everything was labeled.”
“That was very thoughtful of her.”
“It was, but that’s her,” he said, chuckling. “But anyway, Jake came over, looking like a chipmunk with his cheeks all full of puff pastry, and just looking at him, Kola starts smiling, and I can actually see him breathe out all the anxiety and stress. Like, I saw his shoulders go down. It was amazing.”
“It is,” I assured him.
“Oh,” Finn said, “she’s gesturing for me.” And he was out of the house fast, darting out the front door with Dobby in hot pursuit because he wasn’t used to thinking about a Chihuahua, and reached Hannah in time to give her a hug goodbye.
Kola scooped up Dobby, petting him as George got out of the car and shot Hannah a look like—are we going? She laughed at him, and he threw up his hands and got back in the car. Moments later, she was waving, the boys were all waving back, and she was gone.
Once they all walked back inside, I asked my son what was going on.
“You know,” he muttered. “She’s how she’s always been, since she was little, and really, we’re so similar. It just comes out in different ways.”
“For example?”
“I’m bossy as hell and everything has to be my way because it’s the best way and I know it is and I can give you data about why that is.”
“You are like that,” I agreed.
“And Dad’s like that, but you’re not. And Hannah’s like that, but Jake isn’t, and Finn… I mean, Finn is, like, this sanctuary for me, except when his family’s around. They take away his happy, and I hate that, but I understand. I just didn’t grow up the same way is all.”
“And how is that?”
“With any preconceived ideas about who or how I was gonna be. All you two wanted me to be was happy. When I thought I was asexual, you were excited about me having friends and pets and a house I loved. When it changed, you were good with that too. And you’ve been so good to Finn it’s just—I couldn’t ask for better.”
“That’s because we love you,” Sam told him.
“I know, and it’s unconditional, and after meeting so many people who don’t have their parents in their lives anymore, I get how amazing that is. And other friends I’ve had over the years who’ve come over here and been fed or had you show them how to change the battery in their car or give them a hug or had Pa give them Easter baskets—I don’t take any of that for granted. So yeah, I got lucky, and I’m thankful, but you two made both of us just like you.”
“Which I have no problem with,” I told him with a shrug. “And you’re going to be a doctor, and Hannah will run Sutter, so…who can fault me?”
Kola chuckled. “You’re right. But she was really kind when she gave me time to get out there by asking George to sort of inch his way down the driveway. She could have just left, and I would have felt like absolute crap, but she didn’t because she knows me just like I know her. So I can say to Jake, unequivocally, that she didn’t mean to hurt him in any way. She had a good idea and she went forward, certain that he would absolutely see the wisdom in her thinking.”